Song Of the Day: October 10, 2005
Kit and I were nestled in with the Guys re-watching Teenage Kicks: The Story Of the Undertones and a number of things occurred to us.
-The singles from the "Soul Period," near the end of their career are almost as artistically successful as the Jam's, an impressive accomplishment when you consider the latter were doing stuff like "The Bitterest Pill," "Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender," which gets our vote as the all-time best final single by any band. But look at the Undertones 45s: "Chain Of Love," "Love Parade," "Got to Have You Back;" these are all really great records.
-I know the first LP is wonderful, I'd never argue that. But really, Positive Touch is the masterpiece, with amazing depth and variety and few, if any, weak songs. Perhaps not quite Revolver-esque in it's sophistication, but getting there, and an amazing display of growth.
-Teenage Kicks: The Story of the Undertones will never be on VH-1. The band members never had any grotesque excesses, and none of them come across as raging assholes. They are all modest, humble, and well-spoken. In fact if this lovely film has any flaw, it's that there really isn't any story here that some of your friends haven't been through: Band forms as school chums, has brief giddy period of success, cannot maintain that success, gets tired or bored, breaks up because "It's not any fun any more."
-The world lost John Peel way too early.
-I found the O'Neils' comments near the end of the film to the effect of "We didn't realize it at the time, but we were great band," to be very moving; I wish that realization for every band I've ever loved.
"When Saturday Comes," from The Positive Touch was released as a single in Holland; there may have been a couple of other oddball 45 releases from Europe besides the ones you are all familiar with from the All Wrapped Up comp (one of the worst, most inappropriate LP covers...EVER).
7 Comments:
funny -- i watched the same dvd a couple of months ago. i never had given the undertones much of a chance, and it was probably because "teenage kicks" got so much airtime (college radio, compilations, etc.). however, after watching the dvd, i really explored their other stuff. i think the later stuff is a little too schmaltzy at times, but i have to say my fave discovery was "true confessions" -- brilliant! and because i loved tpe's "manic pop thrill," i hear this song as a precursor to some of that album's moments.
funny -- i watched the same dvd a couple of months ago. i never had given the undertones much of a chance, and it was probably because "teenage kicks" got so much airtime (college radio, compilations, etc.). however, after watching the dvd, i really explored their other stuff. i think the later stuff is a little too schmaltzy at times, but i have to say my fave discovery was "true confessions" -- brilliant! and because i loved tpe's "manic pop thrill," i hear this song as a precursor to some of that album's moments.
I love that documentary especially when they appear on the Old Grey Whistle Test stomping through True Confessions in their winter coats. The footage of the lead singer's '80s solo hit (dressed in a puffy paisley shirt and sporting New Romantic bangs) is as funny as any Christopher Guest coda.
I haven't seen the Undertones documentary but I'm guessing the single you're referring to is "Never Never" by the Assembly.
No, the scene is of Feargal singing "A Good Heart," his big UK solo hit. Which is as ghastly as the Undertones were brilliant.
I was first introduced to the Undertones when I bought the UK version of the debut (second issue, with the singles added and the weird synthy version of "True Confessions") out of a bargain bin for 49 cents. One of the great value for money purchases of all time, but I agree with Jon that THE POSITIVE TOUCH is the pinnacle. It's the balancing point of the band, between the soul and psych feel of the later singles and the bubblepunk of the early records.
There is peace on earth. A little while ago, I'm watching the World Series, and they come back from a commercial break with scenes from the game so far set to the sound of The Clash's "Complete Control", but finding your post right now is better yet. Positive Touch is "my" album and the album of my best friends. And that documentary!!! When I first saw it I experienced multiple tears of joy. You've hit all the marks on this entry. I wrote about this album here:
http://overlookedgems.blogspot.com/2005/07/undertones-positive-touch.html
Excellent stuff
Can I also point you towards Feargal's 'unplugged' (i.e just him and a piano) version of More Love which is truly a thing of beauty and a joy forever
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